Ten years ago, I was sitting in a judge’s office in Cheshire, Connecticut to legally change my name. I was already going by my name, Greg. But my legal first name was William. I don’t have anything against William; it’s just that I never used it. I grew up being called Greg. My school records had me enrolled as Greg. I only got into trouble when I got my driver’s license. My birth certificate said William, so that’s what it read on the license.

         I was about to get married, and we were organizing our paperwork. After the 9/11 attacks, identification became very important. I wanted my credit cards, driver’s license and passport to all match. I was the same person. I had the same parents. A change in my life caused me to rethink the consistency of my name.

         We all go through events in our lives that change us. Sometimes they are profound like the birth of a child or graduating from school. Sometimes things happen to us outside of our control that also re-defines us. We get a serious diagnosis. We loose a job or start a different one. Sometimes we make a choice in life that seems insignificant at the time, but it begins to change the course of our life. We choose to speak to a stranger and maybe we fall in love. We stick up for someone and we begin to have a passion for his or her cause. We take up a hobby and it becomes our vocation.

         At the moment of change, we may not even be aware of what is happening. As the future begins to unfold, we may not yet be sure if the change is a blessing or a curse. God calls Abram and give him a new name – Abraham. The new name is a promise that he will be a father to multitudes. The only thing Abraham has to do is believe it.

         We find this difficult. We are used to arrangements where everyone gets something. God doesn’t demand a thing from Abraham. God only promises and blesses. There is no contingency. There is no – “if you do this… or if you don’t do that… ” As difficult as this is to believe, this is how God works with us. God chooses to love us. Period. I know we have the Ten Commandments and the golden rule, but these are ways God shows us how to live. Our obedience has nothing to do with how much God loves us. God gives us the way to live because God loves us and wants to show us the way to live most fully.

         Abraham is called and blessed and given a new name all by faith. This is the context of Jesus’ teaching about taking up the cross. There is no contingency. Jesus is not saying, “take up your cross or you will not be saved.” God always loves us and blesses us. The cross is not the way to God. The cross is the way to live because we already belong to God. The cross is the redefinition of who we are, since God already loves us. Jesus invites us to take up a cross so that we can enter our true life, instead of wandering in our old one.

         We are cross people. This goes far beyond the usual idiom of “a person’s cross to bear.” This goes beyond the usual burdens of life – an alcoholic partner, a chronic illness, etc. These things are difficult and we know that Jesus walks with us helping us to bear these tremendous difficulties. When Jesus invites us to bear a cross, he is defining us a cross people who are busy dying and living. We are dying as we give up our old identities and old ways of living. We are living as we open ourselves to the new and unexpected blessings God will give us.

         This is what we practice in Lent. We give up something dear to us so that we might rely more on God. We don’t have to do this. We choose to fast or pray or study because we long to be closer to God. We long to follow in faith. We want to stretch ourselves and grow into the name God has given us. We want to be “Christian” – Christ-like. We want to be cross bearers, following a path where we give up our false selves at the graveside and live into our true selves as we leave the tomb. This path is just as difficult as it sounds.

         We wish it were easy. God’s love is right at hand. We know we can count on God to work in us and to bless us. The difficult task is to respond and begin to die and to walk the path of our new name.

         We look around us and see only hard work. The loss of the past is painful. There’s a lot to our church that is dying and passing away. There is a blessing in all this dying. There is room for new life as we let go of the old. If we see with faith, we can begin to see glimpses of what is alive.

         Despite all our struggles, we love each other here. We find friends here on the journey who hold us up and help us out. This building with all its faded glory is used for much good in the community. The shelter is spending some more time here because of their need for space and fewer volunteers. The Culinary School is about to graduate another class and nine people will have employment who could not find a job. Literacy Volunteers on the Green continue to tutor immigrants and strangers so that they can work and function in our community. Change for Change continues to collect our small blessings to help others. The food basket is almost always full.

         We are beginning to reflect on our faith. The women’s group and the confirmation class explore what it means to follow Jesus. The vestry is trying to think of new ways to use our resources more faithfully. It feels like a great and difficult burden. We are carrying a cross. It does not lead to outward measures of success. Our success is only measured in how much we become like Jesus. We are being changed. We are serving and striving and walking towards transformation. We are becoming new people. This is what the cross is for.

          When I was a child, I loved this time of year when we wait for Christmas. We always had an advent calendar set up in a sunny spot. Each day we opened a little door or window to show a picture that added to the anticipation. We had a large paper Christmas tree on the wall on which we would hang all the Christmas cards that came in the mail. We would page through the Sears catalog and circle the toys that we hoped Santa would bring us. I would dream about presents and good things to eat. My parents had a tradition of setting up the tree on Christmas Eve after we were asleep (a tradition that did not last long.) In the morning we would tear open the presents. The anticipation of what might be was always greater than what was. There was always something I had hoped for that I didn’t get, or the toy I got wasn’t as good as it looked in the catalog. I look back and reflect that the hope was more powerful than the outcome.

         Today we begin a season of hope. It sounds like a cliché to talk about hope. We are surrounded by advertisements that try to capture our imagination. The media tries to describe our hope for us. The perfect gift or the perfect meal, or the perfect family gathering will give us all the satisfaction we will need this season. Trouble is, we can’t afford what they are selling. The stress and exhaustion we feel is partly caused by our perpetual quest to acquire things that are out of our reach. We might even suspect that those things will only give us a passing contentment until the next thing comes along.

         Hope does not believe something that isn’t true. When we hope, it does not mean that we are wearing rose-colored glasses. Our hope is based in truth. Hope is also more than optimism. We are not just believing the best in all things or making the best of a bad situation. Hope is choosing the future for which we will prepare. We choose this future based on what we believe and on what we know.

         We are living in difficult times, when it might sound impractical to hope. It might sound more reasonable to prepare for bad times. It might be prudent to stock up our resources and weather the storms we see around us. Our God and our traditions all urge us to prepare for something else. We believe that there is more than what we hold in our hands and see with our eyes. We believe that there are more resources at hand than what we have saved in the bank.

         We are choosing the kind of future in which we believe. Do we hope for a future that is up to us alone? Do we believe that all that is possible is what we can make or fix or buy with our own skill and resources? Or do we believe in a future that depends on God? Do we believe that God can make us and mold us and fix us and forgive us?

         When we think about some future day of judgment, we are apt to have fear and regret. We know we will see the truth. We know that all our illusions and failings will be shown for what they are. We will be reminded of how foolish and cowardly we have been. We also know that God forgives us. We also know that God heals us and restores us. I urge you to return again to our lessons this morning. They may sound dire and dangerous at first. They are also reassuring; knowing that God will sweep away every bad thing that keeps us from being our best selves – and God will restore every good thing that draws us to the life we have been made for.

         We know the truth. God has already forgiven and loved us. God has already worked powerfully in our lives (remember how often Isaiah, the psalmist, and Paul reflect on how God has worked in the lives of those who trust in God.) We have been given insight by the Holy Spirit to guide us in our journey. We have seen glimpses of the Holy in our worship, and in the world God has given us. God has been our companion in times of sickness and discouragement in the past. God has given us everything we need to bring us to this place on this day. Since all of this is true, we have the confidence to live in hope. We can choose to prepare for the future God has promised us. We can trust that the God who has been with us in the past will continue to transform us to live through our present challenges.

         It is a relief to give up the illusion that working harder and better and faster will get us anything – except tired and frustrated. Instead, because of our hope, our work is to put ourselves in a place where God can work in us. We need to set aside our plan for the future and seek God’s plan. We need to set aside our fear of what may go wrong and pay more attention to the good that God would have us do. Our hope is not in the gathering of things we think will make us happy. Our hope is in the promises of God to forgive us, to guide us and to restore us.

         In our day we are beset by worries. We live in economic difficulties. Our world is changing and the programs of the past don’t reach the needs of people today. We are faced with higher costs and fewer resources. The short-term future does not look easy. Our hope is not based in passing standards of success. Our hope is based in our God. We are preparing for a future of eternal life, not a season of ease and contentment. We are looking forward to a time of complete restoration, not a leak-proof building or a restored organ. We will do our best with what we have and at the same time we will live as beloved children of God. We are hoping for the coming of our savior. We know that God will transform us and continue to bring us into the work of inviting the world to God.

          How do people describe Jesus? How do you describe Jesus? We have many titles for Jesus that we use every Sunday. Jesus asked the disciples and they gave a list of what people were saying about Jesus. “Some say John the Baptist, but other Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” We know the right answer because Peter gives it. “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Behind all of these answers is an assumption about how Jesus relates to us. We think of Jesus in certain terms because of what we expect from him.

         We know Jesus is our messiah. He is the chosen one who will save us. We call Jesus friend when we are lonely or isolated. We call Jesus our Lord when we want to be reminded that God is in charge and we want the comfort of following the rules. I’m wondering why we cling to certain definitions of Jesus. We have ritualistic formula as part of our worship. We have traditions and bible texts. We cling to Jesus the Good Shepherd and friend. But what does any of this have to do with our faith?

         Jesus praises Peter for his insight. He has proclaimed a new way of defining Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” This is not just a new name. Peter is describing a new way of relating to Jesus that says as much about Peter as it does about Jesus.

         This discussion is happening in a place called Caesarea Philippi. It is an entirely Roman town. It is named to give honor to Caesar and the local ruler Philip. It is also very near a pagan holy place; a spring found in a cave (that eventually becomes a source for the river Jordan.) The Romans believed that caves were entrances to the underworld – the abode of the dead or Hades. The spring gave spiritual significance to the water. In this place was a shrine to Pan and there is evidence that human sacrifice was practiced there.

         Jesus doesn’t just commend Peter for having correct theology. Jesus goes on to attach much significance to Peter’s confession. Jesus says that he will build his church on Peter the rock (either his work or his faith statement.) The gates of Hades will not prevail against it. Jesus gives Peter authority to bind and to loose. This is a way of saying that like an authoritative teacher he has the authority to interpret the law in such a way that binds obligations on others or looses obligations on others.

         Peter did more than say a clever thing or gain a brilliant insight. Peter has seen the world in a new way. Peter has discovered just how God is now dealing with the world and just what God wants us to do to work with God. Peter’s brilliant discovery is that God is saving the world through Jesus and that we are called to work alongside Jesus.

         It’s not enough that we know the truth. The difference is in knowing how the truth changes us and in how knowing the truth calls us to live differently. Next week we will hear the rest of this story. Jesus will tell the disciples that he will have to suffer and die. Peter rebukes Jesus and then Jesus rebukes Peter because he has not understood what this truth will cost him.

         Before we get to that, the apostle Paul gives us a helpful insight. “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of you minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God-what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Paul urges the Christians in Rome to discover how God has called them and gifted them. We are all blessed with gifts – which only become gifts when we give them back to God to be a blessing to others. We grow as a body when everyone offers their gift.

         Our challenge is not right understanding or even right belief. Our challenge is to give ourselves to God. We are always tempted to try and figure things out for God. We try and fix things in the way we think is best without first asking for guidance from God. We think we know what we should do next, when the first thing we should do is to stop and listen to God.

         Our task is not to apply best advertising practices to our church to attract new members. It is not our task to micromanage our investments to get the best return. It is not our first order of business to create healthy self-esteem in all the broken hearts that walk through our door. Our first task is to put ourselves in a place where God can work in us. Our job is to be transformed.

         It is not the popular path. John the Baptist was a celebrity. Elijah was a beloved prophet. Jeremiah was scary but he knew how to challenge people in power. The answer Peter gave was blasphemy. Perhaps in order to save the world God has to sweep aside all our precious sacred objects. God needs us to sweep away everything that is in the way of the path we must take. God wants to change us so that we can participate in the transformation of the world.

         Who do you say Jesus is? Are you being transformed by what you believe?

          The Episcopal Church is full of tradition. This congregation, this sanctuary, our Prayer Book – are all soaked with tradition. We don’t like to mess with the things that we find comfortable. You’ve all heard versions of the joke, “How many Episcopalians does it take to change a light bulb?” “Three. One to change the light bulb, one to hold the ladder, and one to say how much they liked the old one better.” (Or, how dare you change that light bulb! My grandmother gave that light bulb to the church!) Our traditions do more than distinguish us from other Christians. Our traditions help us make sense of our world. They help us to remember connections between us and across generations. They help to define us and to describe how we belong here.

         They are also often invisible to us. We take them for granted. We think that everyone knows how to worship here. We think everyone knows how things work. If we are one of the few who don’t know, we’re embarrassed to ask.

         Jesus has a run in with the Pharisees over tradition. They wondered why Jesus did not instruct his disciples on the proper rituals of hand washing and purification. These rules had been passed down as oral tradition in order to know how to obey the written law. If a person was scrupulous in obeying the traditions, then they could be assured that they had kept the written law.

         We look on this and we are trained to reject the legalism we think we see. If we look at ourselves a little more closely, we might be able to see the legalists that are in us. We have unconscious rules for behaving in public and for raising our children. There are unspoken rules of driving on the highway (don’t drive slow in the fast lane!) We often don’t see these until we meet someone from another culture who questions what we do. Europeans wonder why Americans shower everyday. Are we dirty?

         Jesus shares his frustration with the Pharisees, and maybe his culture, in how they would fuss over the details and miss the important actions. For Jesus, it’s not how a person washes his or her hands that makes them pure. Purity is from the heart. It’s not what we eat or how we cleanse ourselves before we eat that makes us “clean”. Jesus reminds the disciples that it is what comes out of the heart that shows how pure we are.

         In the very next scene, a Canaanite woman interrupts Jesus and the disciples. She is begging, screaming for Jesus that he might heal her daughter. The disciples want her to shut up. The tell Jesus to make her go away. Jesus’ remark is very harsh. He is sent only to the lost sheep of Israel. Where is the love for all the world? What’s going on here? Many scripture commentators reflect that Jesus is showing his human side. He changes his mind about something. People find comfort in this because it’s heartening to know that God is not rigid or legalistic. Jesus bends to accept the faith of another.

         Another way to reflect on this is that Jesus is testing her. He may also be testing the disciples. In other words, Jesus says something harsh. He speaks legalistic rules in order to see if anyone will challenge the status quo. In the end, it is the foreign woman who shows faith and challenges Jesus to give the crumbs to the dogs.

         I think we must be careful when we look at scripture with our concerns and assume that the original context is the same as ours. We have been wrestling for generations with church rules. We have argued about the ordination of women, the prayer book, a new hymnbook, and more recently the ordination and marriage of homosexuals. We are looking for proof texts about inclusion. We want to see Jesus being flexible so we can feel more comfortable about being flexible. I heartily agree with the perspective that we cannot know the mind of God and we should not proscribe what God must do. I believe we are more free in our faith than we let ourselves be.

         I also think that this text is not about the flexibility of Jesus. This is not a text we should use to prove a point about how God isn’t rigid. Jesus is giving us the opportunity to see our own legalism. We adopt our own set of standards around who belongs and how we should behave. Jesus reminds us to look in the heart and not at how a person dresses or how they comport themselves. Jesus gives us the opportunity to see the faith of another person before we make judgments about whom they are or what they have to offer.

         Everyone says, “We want the church to grow.” In my experience, we say that we welcome the stranger, but in practice we want to fill the church only with people who are just like us. If we honestly want to welcome the stranger, then we have to allow ourselves to be comfortable with people who are strange to us. The gift Jesus gives us is that we can receive the surprising gifts that they have to offer. They can help us grow more faithful by discovering new ways to express our faith.

         In the gospel this morning, the Pharisees are blind guides and the disciples are unwelcoming and heartless towards the stranger. Even Jesus seems to dismiss her. It is the hated foreigner who displays great faith towards Jesus. It is the Canaanite woman who is blessed and who is a blessing to others.

         We are anxious about the future. Our natural tendency is to follow patterns from the path and to surround ourselves with familiar faces and familiar plans. Maybe we should embrace the freedom that is offered to us. We don’t really know what God wants from us at any moment. We are free to discover what it is. We are also free to invite the stranger among us. Not only might we discover new ways to be faithful, we may also be blessed by their gifts.

          Sometimes life is difficult and sometimes it feels as if we are asked to do the impossible. We often have our faith tested by the challenges of life. Even so, how would we react if Jesus asked us to walk on water? I don’t have a lot of experience with boating, but it seems impossible, and even a little odd. Why walk on water? The disciples are sitting in a perfectly good boat.

         You may have heard various forms of the joke about Jesus walking on the water. After he gets back in the boat he tells Peter, “The trick is to step on the rocks!” But why the trick? Why is Jesus performing this kind of miracle? Healings come from his compassion for those who are suffering. When Jesus seems to know what people are thinking, it shows how he understands us. What does walking on water show us?

         One of the attributes of divinity, especially in Jesus’ day, is power over nature. There are many psalms that describe God as riding on the clouds; that is, having power over the weather. This was often stated as a kind of comparison to the local Canaanite god who was supposed to rule the sky. Perhaps Jesus is showing his power over nature. He is showing the disciples that he is more than a nice guy and a wise teacher. The walking on water also evokes images of the past when the people of God found salvation by crossing over water – such as the Exodus from Egypt and their crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land.

         Jesus has gone up the mountain to pray. He has sent the disciples to cross the Sea of Galilee while he prays alone. A sudden storm comes up and the disciples are in danger and out of control. Jesus comes to them on the water and they are terrified. They fear that Jesus is dead and that they are seeing a ghost. Jesus tries to calm them, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”

         Peter answers, “If it is you, ask me to come out and meet you.” Jesus commands him and Peter gets out of the boat. At first he walks toward Jesus, but as he sees the waves and feels the wind he starts to sink. Jesus pulls him up safely into the boat and says, ”You of little faith. Why did you doubt?” As I hear this, I understand Peter’s doubt very well. I am astonished the he got out of the boat in the first place. I am also still left wondering, why bother walking around on the water at all?

         We find ourselves in a different time and place. We are not in a physical boat, but our ship of faith, this church, is being buffeted by storms and difficulties. We’re trying to do what we have been commanded, but we don’t seem to be making headway. Perhaps we get a glimpse of Jesus, but he seems far off – ethereal – out of reach. If he would only give us clear direction – then we would follow him with conviction.

         Jesus is inviting us to do extraordinary things. We have been given life and the good news that can change the world. We take that first step and begin to step out of the boat – out of the safety of what we know. We look around and see the wind and waves. We see the troubles that beset us. We see that money is tight. We see that people no longer respect our faith. We fear failure. We fear being made fun of. We fear giving our resources because we might not have enough to survive. We begin to sink.

         There is no water and there is no boat. But the call of Jesus is real. Our fear of what will happen to us is real. We can take heart that even the closest disciples of Jesus had their share of fear. Our question is about how we overcome it.

         We don’t start with the storm. Jesus performs this extraordinary act by first taking time alone with God. We can only know what God wants from us if we take time to listen. We will be bringing our own list of concerns and needs before God. Eventually we need to set these aside and listen to what God wants from us.

         Another way that we prepare is by hearing what others have to say. The way that other people feel led by God helps to inform us how God leads our whole community. This is why I keep trying to have us pray out loud during the prayers of the people. I’m not looking for perfectly crafted prayers. I’d like to hear us share openly the things that are on our hearts. We have been too long an isolated and private people. If we cannot discuss our faith with each other, then who else will listen?

         We have to take that first step out of the boat. We are far too used to doing only what we know will work. The call of faith is into the unknown. The call of faith is to walk out onto the water without knowing what will support us. To grow in faith we must continually put ourselves in a place where we do not know the outcome, but must trust God instead. Maybe we need a little less of “going with what we know”, and a little more of, ”let’s try something new.”

         We may have to stretch ourselves to try things that are new to us. We may have to set aside time to meet together and talk about our faith so that we can support each other. We may have to give our time and money to support the work of the church. We may have to try new forms of outreach that put us side by side with strangers. I don’t know the answer. No one here knows the answer. It’s time we got out of the boat to look for it.

         I don’t know about walking on water, but I do know what it feels like to be in an uncertain time and place. No one knows if things will work out. Jesus reminds us to look at him and trust in him. He has already given everything for us. He has promised to stand by us. Our task is not to know all the answers but to trust without knowing the outcome. Jesus is with us. The storm around us will eventually cease. Jesus never promised us an easy journey. He only promised to be with us and see us to the end.

         Meanwhile, Jesus invites us to join him in his extraordinary work of re-creating the world. It’s time to step out of the boat.

          Jacob wrestles with God (or an angel sent from God.) The con man has been conned himself. He once fooled his brother and father into giving him the birthright. He himself has been fooled by his uncle who has made him marry two daughters. One day his sons will fool him again when they sell Joseph into slavery. But this night Jacob is alone and in an unexpected place.

         Jacob is alone because he has sent his family and servants and all his possessions across the river to meet his brother. Jacob fears that his brother may still be angry, so he is waiting on this side of the river to put off the confrontation as long as possible. Jacob wrestles with God. For what was he wrestling? Jacob is being forced to confront how he has gotten to this place. He must face how he has lived his faith in God. Perhaps he is facing the difference between his profession of faith and his practice of working the best deal in life, no matter the consequences. Maybe this is a lesson to us. Do we live by faith in God or do we trust in our own ability to work the system?

         In contrast (and not necessarily connected), Jesus lives a life of faithful obedience to God. Herod has killed John the Baptist. Jesus is tired and he is seeking a place of quiet and rest. The crowd follows him to a deserted place and he teaches and heals until late in the day. He has compassion. The disciples urge Jesus to send them away to find food to eat. Jesus tells the disciples to give them something to eat.

         The disciples don’t see how this is possible. They only have five loaves and two fish. There is not enough. Jesus shows them that it is more than enough.

         Jesus doesn’t directly explain what happens or why. We are left to wonder and compare it to other things we know. The actions of Jesus are like the Eucharist. He takes the bread and blesses it. He breaks the bread and gives it to the disciples to distribute. The crowd marvels at the miracle, comparing it to other miraculous feedings. Is this like the manna in the wilderness? Is this like Elijah feeding the widow during the drought?

         The mechanism is not shared. Was food magically created out of thin air? Were people moved to generosity so that they opened their packs and shared their food with their neighbors? Is this a symbol of God’s provision and generosity? Why not all of these things?

         We are in our own tough spot. Like Jacob, it is difficult to believe in far away promises when we have very pressing present challenges. We’d rather work the angles than trust and wait. Like Jesus and the disciples, we are tired and overworked. We need a rest. We don’t see how we can meet the needs around us with our few resources.

         We can choose to focus on what is wrong and what we lack. We can list building and budget problems and we can complain about how bad it all is. Or we can live lives of faith and of hope.

         What do we believe? We believe in God’s unending love for us. We believe in God’s ability to provide all that we need. We believe we are called to join in God’s work of transforming the world. Maybe God can transform our small offerings and make them do things we have never imagined. Maybe our acts of generosity will move others to join us and we will all have more than we need. Maybe God will give us a miracle if we just get out of the way.

         This morning we offer a feast. It is more than a symbol. We are fed, even though we have little to offer. This morsel of bread and sip of wine makes us children of God and brothers and sisters of Jesus. We become good news to the hungry. We become messengers of a new world with new rules and new hope.

         Because Jesus has transformed whatever small thing we offer, we can turn from fear and live lives of faith. We no longer have to live as scheming fools who try and work the best angle in life. Instead, we can become faithful fools who can give everything away, knowing that we are as wealthy as we ever need to be.

The Second Sunday in Lent

            Many of you know that I am a Red Sox fan. I think that they have a pretty good team this year. A lot of their players were injured last year and they have better hitting. I hope the pitching can hold up, but in General, I believe in this team. What do I mean when I say that I believe in them? I believe they have what it takes to win. That’s my faith in them. I could also say that I think that they have the right spirit. They know how to get through a tough season. They have character. In this way they have a spirit that their fans admire – the fans of Red Sox nation.

            There are two ways of thinking about faith. We trust in the promise of another. We trust that someone will do what he or she says they will do. This is how Abram (Abraham) has faith in God. God tells him to go to another land. Abram goes, but the manifold blessing is all the work of God. Abram shows great faith in moving, but also in believing that God would be what Abram imagines. Abram is giving up a family tradition of Paganism in the land of Babylon. He will settle in a new land with a new way of life.

            This may be captured in the psalm. The old paganism believed that a god resided on every high hilltop. The psalmist looks at these many hills and wonders, “from where is my help to come? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.” Abram’s God is higher than the many hilltops and maker of the whole world (not simply a local environment.) Abram believes in God’s promises, but also in God’s control over everything.

            This is the way that we make sense of Jesus’ cryptic words to Nicodemus. The Pharisee comes with good intentions to either test Jesus or learn more. It may be that he is coming in the night because he is cowardly, or because he is pious, because the middle of the night is the time to study Torah. Before he can offer any questions, Jesus tells him that we have to be born from above or anew. While Nicodemus ponders the biological difficulties with re-entering the womb, Jesus tells him that it is the work of the Spirit. How are we born again, or from above, or anew? It is by faith. God promises it and we believe it.

            Just as any birth, the one born does nothing to gain life. The one born has no say. They simply come into being by the loving act of another. So are we born a second time into new life with God.

            But there is another dimension of faith. We believe in the power of God. We believe in the loving sacrifice of Jesus and his resurrection. But we also share faith. We don’t just believe in Jesus. We believe as Jesus does. We share faith not just in the truth of Jesus; we believe the same way that he does. We believe that the Spirit of God exists, but we also believe that God’s spirit dwells in us and guides us in the right way. If we are having struggles as a church in this place and time, perhaps it is not because we lack faith in Jesus, it’s because we lack the faith of Jesus.

            When we try to do the will of God, we look at our hands and think about our abilities. We imagine the resources we have in our bank account and think about how much free time we have in our schedules. Then we try to find some good things to do with our resources. We give some food to the hungry. We try to act nicer. We try to think well of our neighbor. Then we wonder why nothing changes. I don’t want to ignore the importance of many people doing their small share, but we fail because we try to do God’s work with our resources.

            If we have faith in God, what are the limits? Can’t God do anything? Why do we limit God to what we can pull out of our wallet or do with our hands? If we share the faith of Jesus, we would be willing to empty our hands and let go of everything we think we can do. Instead we would be listening for the voice of God, ready to work through us. If we really shared the faith of Jesus, imagine what God could do through us? Would there be any limit? Perhaps this is why God works such powerful things through the poorest people. We have all heard stories about third world communities being able to overcome great difficulties. Maybe because they have nothing else, they can more easily rely on God.

            I have the example in my own household of newborn child. My granddaughter is constantly learning and discovering. She has no ideas about limits. She has no idea about anything. She trusts she will be heard when she cries. She is content to discover the world as it unfolds. She sleeps without a single care (when she sleeps). God doesn’t want us to become simple or childish. God wants us to trust that the most outrageous claims and blessing of God are all true. We work and we worry about how we will make them come about. All along, God is ready to bless us if our arms weren’t already so full with all the things we think we need to do.

            Our lives aren’t about doing – doing the right thing, or doing more good things. Our lives are all about the new thing that God is birthing through us. As we pray and listen and seek the will of God. It’s never about being better or good enough to be blessed. We are already blessed. We are already forgiven of whatever it is that burdens us with guilt. (I already pronounced absolution. It’s all true.) Our life of faith is to discover how God will live through us and let it happen.


I'll try to post my sermons more quickly. Let me know if this is helpful.

Greg